Decapitated body brings diplomacy to a head at border

FLEMISH diplomacy and a meandering river have merged to settle a borderline problem between Belgium and Holland.

But it has taken a land-swap, a little bit of lawlessness and the rather shocking discovery of a headless corpse to reach an agreement.

On New Year’s Day, the border between the eastern Belgian region of Vise and the southwestern Dutch municipality of Eijsden was moved back to its historic location – the middle of the River Meuse.

Over time, the river’s changing course meant two uninhabited parcels of Belgian land ended up on the Dutch side while a section of Dutch territory found itself effectively in Belgium.

But a peaceful 48-acre land-swap, equivalent to 27 football fields, has been reached, more than 170 years after the border was first agreed in 1843.

One strip of land had proved almost impossible for Belgium to police. Despite both being signatories to the EU’S passport-free Schengen Zone, Belgium needed special permission to travel through Dutch territory, so its police were forced to approach it by boat.

The enclave was reportedly popular for illegal raves, drug deals and prostitution. Four years ago, a headless body was discovered on the peninsula and reported to Dutch police.

The Dutch could not investigate on Belgian territory, while the Belgian po- lice had to ferry prosecutors, labs and investigators there – with nowhere to berth. The land swap has therefore been hailed as a triumph of diplomacy.

The Dutch will now police the land with their newly acquired nature parks, while Belgium is just happy the jurisdictionary headache is over.

“Diplomacy at its best,” said Didier Reynders, Belgium’s foreign minister.